Staff Physician
Cleveland Clinic Children's
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Dr. Frank Esper MD is a pediatric infectious disease physician-scientist at Cleveland Clinic Children's with expertise in virology, with a career devoted to the study of endemic and emerging respiratory viruses. A central focus of his research has been metagenomic sequencing to advance understanding of viral diversity, and the evolution of respiratory pathogens. His published work highlights the application of metagenomic approaches to uncover the complexities of viral communities and their clinical impact—ranging from insights into SARS-CoV-2 mutation rates and clade diversity to understanding the role of vi-ral co-infections in modulating disease severity. In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Esper is involved in public health communication, engaging with over 500 regional and national media outlets to provide accessible, evidence-based information offering expert commentary on infectious disease outbreaks and emerging public health topics through local and national news, podcasts, and print platforms.